A murder investigation is under way after a four-year-old girl was found stabbed to death on a housing estate.

Police found the body of the child at an address in Clapton, east London, on Friday, after reports of a knife incident shortly after 3pm.

A woman, believed to be the girl's mother, was arrested on suspicion of murder. She has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and is in a secure unit.

Paramedics attended the incident in Elderfield Road on the Chatsworth Estate, but the girl was pronounced dead at the scene. Scotland Yard said next of kin have been informed, but they await formal identification.

A post-mortem examination took place today at Poplar mortuary in east London but no formal cause of death was given and detectives are awaiting the results of further tests.

The Metropolitan Police child abuse investigation command is leading the murder inquiry.

An inquest into the child's death is due to open at Poplar Coroner's Court on Monday.